SWITCH Biotech restructures its activities
Munich (October 22, 2002) - SWITCH Biotech AG is to focus on product development and widen its prospective client basis to attract partners not only from the biopharmaceutical industry but also from the cosmetic sector. To this end the company, which has specialised in skin diseases, is ramping up its basic research activities and focussing on speeding up the process of making its own substances and active agents available to both the pharmaceutical and cosmetic markets. In doing so SWITCH Biotech is aligning itself to the needs and requirements of a market now showing increased interest in these advanced products.

The restructuring of existing teams and the necessary adjustment of the number of employees are strategic steps to ensure the company´s current solid financial basis well into the future. "In 2003 SWITCH Biotech is planning to introduce into the company new technologies and expertise in development" said Dr. Peter Halle, Chief Technology Officer (CTO). He continued: "This will considerably strengthen our position in both the pharmaceutical and cosmetic markets."

(164 words/1.060 characters)

About Switch Biotech:
SWITCH Biotech AG carries out genetic research to identify target molecules which are involved in the wound healing process and skin diseases. The objective is to develop, in conjunction with pharmaceutical companies, new medication to be used in the treatment of dermatological complaints (psoriasis, atopic dermatitis etc.) and cutaneous ulcers.

The third round of financing was completed in April 2002, bringing the total investment to 23.8 million Euro. In the previous two rounds of financing the company has received 10.6 million Euro. They were supplied by venture capital providers, private investors, founding members and silent partners.

SWITCH Biotech is based in Neuried, near Munich. The company, which employs 65 people, was founded in 1997 by eight scientists as a spin-off of the Gene Center in Munich.

Further information is available on www.switch-biotech.com .

Further information can also be obtained from:

SWITCH Biotech AG

Illa Knappik 
Floriansbogen 2-4 
D-82061 Neuried/Germany

Tel. 0049-89-74946 291 
Fax: 0049-89-74946 131 
E-mail: knappik@switch-biotech.com 
http://www.switch-biotech.com 


Scientific Journals / Spezialised Press: 

BIOCOMMUNICATIONS.net GmbH 

Dr. Pablo Serrano 
Brunnenstr. 128
D-13355 Berlin/Germany

Tel. 0049-30-264 921 30 
Fax: 0049-30-264 921 11

email: serrano@biocommunications.net  
Web: www.biocommunications.net  


Daily Press, Business Papers:

Maisberger & Partner

Gisela Blaas
Kirchenstrasse 17 c-d
D-81675 Munich/Germany

Tel. 0049-89-41 95 99 23
Fax: 0049-89-41 95 99 12

eMail: gisela.blaas@maisberger.com 
Web: www.maisberger.com